KAZAKHSTAN TAKES STEPS TOWARDS RATIFICATION OF SLAVERY AND

UNCLAS ASTANA 003313 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G (ACBLANK),G/TIP, SCA/CEN (O'MARA),SCA/RA, INL/AAE (BUHLER),DRL, PRM, USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM SOCI KCOR PGOV KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN TAKES STEPS TOWARDS RATIFICATION OF SLAVERY AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES CONVENTIONS ¶1. Kazakhstan has taken another step towards ratification of the Slavery Convention, Protocol of Changes and Amendments to the Slavery Convention, and the Additional Protocol on Slavery Abolishment (Slavery Convention). ¶2. The Slavery Convention was approved by the Mazhilis (the lower chamber of Parliament) on December 12 and sent to the Senate (the upper chamber) for action. Following Senate approval, the draft law will be sent to President Nazarbaev for signature, which will complete the process of Kazakhstan's accession to this convention and the aforementioned protocols. ¶3. A Mazhilis working group was formed on December 4 to consider a draft law on ratification of the UN Convention on Transnational Crimes and three additional convention protocols. It is expected that Kazakhstan will accede to the UN Convention on Transnational Crimes shortly after ratification of the Slavery Convention. ORDWAY